National Headlines
Judge rules ‘Access Hollywood’ tape admissible in Trump hush money trial
Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution in New York has denied Trump’s attempts to exclude the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape and testimony from key witnesses from his upcoming criminal trial.The defense argued Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, should not be allowed to testify because he has a history of lying, arguing that calling him to the witness stand would amount to suborning perjury.Judge Juan Merchan rejected the argument.“This Court has been unable to locate any treatise, statute or holding from courts in this jurisdiction or others that support defendant’s rational that a particular witness should be kept off the witness stand because his credibility has been previously called into question,” Merchan said.He ... Read MoreEPA bans remaining uses of cancer-causing asbestos in the US
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a United States ban on the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos -- a carcinogen that the agency estimates is linked to more than 40,000 U.S. deaths each year.The announcement comes as part of President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative, which is using federal resources to make progress on cancer research and treatment."While the use of asbestos in the United States has been declining for decades, the use of chrysotile asbestos has continued to this day. Because of its resistance to heat, fire and electrical conduction, it has remained in use for a variety of construction and industrial products," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a Monday press call."But ... Read MoreCapitol Police wearing body cameras in pilot program to build public trust
(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Capitol Police on Monday started wearing body-worn cameras as part of its pilot program to protect its officers and members of Congress as well as enhance public trust, its chief said.Seventy Capitol Police officers will wear the body cameras during the 180-day program. Eleven Capitol Police cruisers will be outfitted with dashboard cameras that will automatically record if a cruiser's emergency lights are triggered."I was confident that the cameras would do two things. First, they would remind the public just how challenging the law enforcement profession can be," Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a news release. "Second, the cameras would also showcase the great work our cops do day in and day out. This ... Read MoreTrump, some co-defendants in Fulton County begin appeals process of disqualification ruling
Jason Marz/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Former President Donald Trump and some of his co-defendants in the Fulton County election interference case on Monday kicked off the process to appeal the judge's disqualification ruling that ultimately kept District Attorney Fani Willis on the case, asking the court in a new motion to grant a certificate of immediate review.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ... Read MoreNew video shows missing student Riley Strain briefly speak with police on night he vanished in Nashville
Metro Nashville PD(NASHVILLE, Tn.)-- Newly released video shows missing college student Riley Strain briefly speak with a police officer on the night he vanished in Nashville, Tennessee.Officer Reginald Young came across Strain, 22, while responding to a car burglary on Gay Street, south of the Woodland Street Bridge, on the night of March 8, according to Nashville police.Around 9:50 p.m., Strain walked by alone. The officer asked how he was doing, and Strain responded, "I’m good, how are you?"Shown was Riley's brief exchange of greetings w/ Officer Reginald Young on Gay St., south of the Woodland St. Bridge, on the night of 3/8. Riley did not appear distressed. Officer Young was there on a vehicle burglary call & remained on ... Read More3 separate shootings erupt within 1 hour in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
ABC News/WJXXThree separate, unrelated shootings erupted within an hour in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Sunday night, leaving one person dead and several hurt, according to authorities.The first shooting was reported at 7:50 p.m. when two people started firing guns near the Best Western Hotel, Jacksonville Beach police said on Monday.One bystander was injured and both suspects were injured, police said.At 8:13 p.m., a man fired shots while running in front of businesses, police said. No one was hurt, police said.The gun was recovered but police said they are still looking for the suspect.One person was killed in the third shooting, which unfolded around 8:31 p.m. near Sneakers Bar, police said.Authorities said they are looking for three suspects who displayed guns.The ... Read MoreSuspect charged with multiple counts of murder in 2-state crime rampage: Prosecutors
WPVIA suspect accused of killing three family members, including his 13-year-old sister, in a Philadelphia suburb and then fleeing to New Jersey is now in custody, officials said.The suspect -- identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. -- was initially reported to be barricaded with hostages inside a residence in Trenton midday Saturday, hours after the shootings unfolded at two residences in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said.Following an hourslong standoff, police received information that Gordon was possibly on the street, according to Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. The suspect, who was found walking several blocks from the home, was apprehended without incident Saturday evening, Wilson said.Gordon may have "slipped out" of the residence before police were able to establish a perimeter ... Read MorePolice discover Riley Strain’s bank card amid college student’s disappearance
@MNPDNashville/XAuthorities discovered a clue in the case of missing University of Missouri college student Riley Strain, Sunday, who vanished while visiting Nashville earlier this month.Nashville Police announced Strain's bank card was found Sunday on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River, near Riverfront Park, in a post on X (formally known as Twitter). "The search for him continues," Nashville PD added.Strain was visiting Nashville on Friday, March 8, when he went missing after being kicked out of a bar on Gay Street in the city's Broadway area, Nashville police said.The 22-year-old was last seen by friends at 9:52 p.m. after he was kicked out of Luke Bryan's bar, Luke's 32 Bridge, police said.Strain and his Delta Chi fraternity ... Read MoreSuspect in fatal New Mexico State Police officer shooting captured: Officials
New Mexico State PoliceThe suspect wanted in the killings of a New Mexico state trooper and a South Carolina paramedic was captured Sunday following a shooting involving law enforcement, authorities said.The suspect, Jaremy Smith, was taken into custody in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, after leading police on a chase that resulted in a shooting involving at least one deputy from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, according to the New Mexico State Police.Smith is suspected in the fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare early Friday and the slaying of Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic who was reported missing on Thursday, authorities said.The 33-year-old suspect, who was identified on Saturday by police, was the subject of a ... Read More2 killed, 5 injured in DC shooting, police say, as search for suspect continues
X/@DCPoliceDeptA suspect in a shooting that left two people dead and five injured early Sunday in a historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C., remained on the loose and unidentified, according to police.The shooting erupted around 3 a.m. at the intersection of 7th Street NW and P Street NW, about seven blocks east of Logan Circle and four blocks north of Mt. Vernon Square, police said. The shooting occurred near the Kennedy Recreation Center.Law enforcement in Washington, D.C., were searching Sunday for a suspect who they said fled on foot following a deadly shooting."We're asking anyone who may have any information related to this incident or may have witnessed it, to contact the Metropolitan Police Department," Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carrol said ... Read MoreSuspect in fatal shootings in Philadelphia suburb barricaded in New Jersey residence with hostages: Police
WPVI(FALLS TOWNSHIP, Pa.) -- An "extremely dangerous" suspect accused of killing three people, including his 13-year-old sister, in a Philadelphia suburb is barricaded with hostages at a residence in New Jersey, officials said.The suspect -- identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. -- was reported barricaded inside a residence in Trenton at 12:22 p.m. local time, hours after the shootings unfolded at two residences in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said.All residents of the home involved in the barricade situation, as well as the residents of neighboring homes on the same side of the street, have since been evacuated without injury, Trenton Police Department Det. Lt. Lisette Rios confirmed to ABC News Saturday afternoon. Gordon is believed to be in the residence ... Read MoreSuspect in New Mexico trooper shooting named, linked to South Carolina woman found dead
New Mexico State Police(DILLON COUNTY, S.C.) -- The suspect in the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer has been identified as Jaremy Smith of Marion County, South Carolina, and he has been linked to a South Carolina woman who was found dead Friday, according to police.Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina first responder, was found dead after she had been reported missing by family on Thursday. The New Mexico suspect was driving her car when the trooper was murdered, according to South Carolina's Marion County Sheriff’s Office.Warrants have been issued for Smith in the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. Hare was fatally shot after responding to a call early Friday on Interstate 40, according to ... Read MoreOne dead, Five injured in shooting at Indianapolis bar
Jeremy Hogan/Getty Images/STOCK(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) -- At least one person is dead and five others have been injured after a shooting inside a bar in Indianapolis.The shooting took place shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday morning at an establishment in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 800 block of Broad Ripple Avenue when officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were working in the are and heard shots being fired inside a nearby business, according to a statement released from IMPD early Saturday morning detailing the incident.“When officers arrived, they located a total of five adult male victims with injuries consistent with gunshot wound(s),” IMPD said. “Those officers provided first aid to those victims on the scene. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) ... Read MoreFormer students, parents speak on anti-LGBTQ bullying at Nex Benedict’s school
ABC News(OWASSO, Okla.) -- The death of LGBTQ teen Nex Benedict following a fight in a high school restroom has been ruled a suicide, shining a renewed spotlight on the intensifying environment in Oklahoma schools and anti-LGBTQ bullying.ABC News spoke with former students and local parents, who say that the impact of anti-LGBTQ policy and rhetoric is a growing concern in Oklahoma schools like Owasso High School, where Benedict was a student."I was constantly fearing for my safety," said 2022 Owasso alum and trans student Riley, who requested to go by their first name for safety reasons. "Looking back, I think that if I were out [as trans] during high school, I probably wouldn't have survived."Benedict, 16, died on Feb. ... Read MoreGuatemalan migrant accused of police officer’s death released after case dismissed
Attorney Phillip Arroyo(BAKER COUNTY, Fla.) -- Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, the teen migrant from Guatemala who was arrested following the death of a Florida police officer, has been freed from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's custody his lawyers told ABC News.Attorney Phillip Arroyo shared a video on TikTok showing the moment Aguilar Mendez was released for the first time since May 2023. The video shows the teen smiling and nodding while speaking with Arroyo.Aguilar Mendez, a 19-year-old farmworker was arrested in May after Sgt. Michael Kunovich, an officer with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in St. Augustine Florida approached him. Kunovich made contact with him due to "suspicious behavior," according to an arrest report reviewed by ABC News.Aguilar Mendez, who ... Read MoreTop of page